2016's Best Skis: Women's All-Mountain Narrow
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The Kenja has long been a favorite with our testers, but this year Völkl makes it even better. A new tapered tip lets it dive into turns effortlessly, and more rocker makes it more playful and forgiving than its predecessor. A slightly wider waist adds versatility and enlarges the sweet spot so it performs even when you’re not 100 percent on it. Meanwhile, Völkl doesn’t fix what’s not broken: A wood core with a sheet of metal maintains its grip on groomers for that stuck-to-the-snow feel. “This ski does it all.”
Dimensions: 127/90/106
Lengths: 153,161,169
Radius: 16 at 169
Price: $825.00
More on these skis here.
Less weight, more strength. That’s what the R&D guys spend most of their time obsessing over, and the latest innovation from Atomic’s war room is Carbon Tank Mesh. The CTiW has a layer of the stuff, along with a titanium strip along its length, to make it über-stable. Testers agreed this ski is the ultimate crud crusher, with tenacious edge bite and a generous shovel that blasts through anything in its path. It’s balanced and versatile with a “super-clean feel.”
Dimensions: 130.5/90/114
Lengths: 153, 161, 169
Radius: 16 at 169
Price: $725.00
More on these skis here
A perennial favorite, the Black Pearl is a rare gem indeed: a hard-charger that’s never punishing. It’s quick and responsive, anticipating your moves before you make them. It rails on groomed and is eager to coax the tentative into an honest carve. It’s smooth, calm, and balanced, with a rebound energy that instantly puts a smile on your face. “It’s appropriate for so many skier types,” said a tester.
Dimensions: 115/78/100
Lengths: 151, 156, 163, 170
Radius: 16 at 163
Price: $750.00
More on these skis here.
There’s just something about the Temptation series. These skis feel buttery and calm, and they trench on groomed so effortlessly testers said the 88 felt like a “turning machine.” You’ll be laying your hip on the ground without even realizing it, and at the end of the day your thighs will think you’ve just been walking the dog. Air Tip at both ends reduces swing weight and make pretty patterns when the sun shines through, and the wood core is responsive and solid. “Gave me a superb run of energetic carving and swooping GS turns.”
Dimensions: 135/88/124
Lengths: 156, 164, 172
Radius 13 at 164
Price: $750.00
More on these skis here.
There’s just something about the Temptation series. These skis feel buttery and calm, and they trench on groomed so easily, testers said the 88 felt like a “turning machine.” You’ll be grazing your hip on the ground, and at the end of the day your thighs will think you’ve just been walking the dog. Air Tip reduces swing weight (and makes pretty patterns when the sun shines through), and the wood core is responsive and solid. “Energetic carving and swooping GS turns.”
Dimensions: 135/88/124
Lengths: 156, 164, 172
Radius: 13 (164)
Price: $750
More on these skis here.
The all-new Glory line is the women’s version of Dynastar’s well-received Powertrack series and is one of the more piste-centric offerings of the group. “Creamy and smooth, quiet and controlled,” said a tester. “Dynamic and eager, yet polished,” said another. It has plenty of energy in and out of the turn, and a Cham-like pintail makes for easy transitions and maneuverability. It’s an expert ski that expects good input, but it never makes unreasonable demands. Rockered tip and tail, camber underfoot.
Dimensions: 125/89/109
Lengths: 159, 166, 173
Radius: 17 at 173
Price: $700.00
More on these skis here.
